Stamp tax device



May 18, 1937. w. B. WHITE 2,080,753

STAMP TAX DEVICE Filed Feb. 1v, 195s s sheets-sheet 1 lel ffy-2- May s, 1937. w. B. wHlTE 2,080,753

STAMP TAX DEVICE Filed Feb.y 17, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 'May 18, 1937. w. B. WHITE 2,080,753

STAMP TAX DEVICE Filed Feb. 17, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented May 18, 1937 Uris FICE

14 Claims.

The invention relates to new and useful improvements in printing machines generally, although more particularly to machines for stamping dates or other printed matter on the surfaces 5 of packages, envelopes, and the like, in ink or otherwise, in a continuous and automatic manner, and the objects oi the invention are particularly, first, to provide a machine that will properly and effectively and continuously alix an authorized official tax stamp impression on individual packages of cigarettes, so that same may be permanently and undeniably alixed, thus eliminating the necessity of amxing independently a gummed stamped tax sticker; second, to provide a means for handling a large number of packages rapidly and continuously; third, to provide a means of properly metering or counting said packages so that said stamping can be properly accounted for to the lproper government oiicials; fourth, to provide a proper housing for the said mechanism to prevent tampering with the counting device so that only authorized persons may have access to the mechanism; fifth, to provide a means of permanently aiix- 25 ing the stamped impression by heat applied concurrently with the impression.

With these and other objects in view which will more fully appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by follow- 30 ing the description, the appended claims, and

the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a printing ma- 35 chine embodying my invention, the front wall being broken away to disclose a mechanism located in rear thereof,

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof,

Figure 3 is a vertical vsection taken on the ne 3 3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a left hand elevation, parts being shown in section,

Figure 5 is a detail sectional view of the printing mechanism,

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the stationary cam,

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the hopper, and

Figures 8, 9, and l are detail sectional views showing a modied form-of counting mechanism.

Like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several gures of the drawings.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, my invention comprises a base having a pair of spaced and upwardly extending parallel front and rear frame members or plates 6, 'l rigidly secured thereto. These plates are centrally 60 mounted on the base to provide spaces on the base both in front of and in rear of the plates. The front space is closed by a vertical plate A having a front wall 8, end walls 9, 9, andinwardly extending rear end walls I0, Ill. The front wall 8 and the end walls 9, 9 are rigidly secured to the base 5 and the rear end walls lo, I@ are rigidly secured to theL ends of the rear frame plate l. to the walls of the plate A and to the rear frame plate l, and is 'provided with an opening IIa located immediately in iront of the rear frame plate l.

Attached to the top plate in register with this opening is a hopper B into which cigarette packages C or other articles, which are to be printed, are rst inserted and then ejected. This hopper includes a vertical plate which is bent to form side walls I2, I2, a rear wall I3` having a centrally located upstanding extension lli, and.

anges I5, I which extend inwardly from the front edges of the side walls, the hopper being rigidly connected to the top plate II by brackets IL Il. An inverted V-shaped partition I 8 having upwardly inclined walls I9, 2l) is centrally located between the side walls I2, I2 Vand'is secured to the rear wall I3 and to the eXtension I4 thereof. The upper portion of the partition is narrower than the extension I4 and forms resultant flanges 2l, 22 abovefthe rear wall I3. The front edges of the partition walls I8, I8 are provided with laterally extending flanges 23, 24 which cooperate with the ilanges I5, I5. Thus it will be seen that the hopper is divided by the partition to form a receiving compartment D and an exit compartment E, both of which are in register with the opening IIa of the top plate II.

The open front of the hopper B permits the operator to introduce the packages into the receiving` compartment D and slip them downwardly in stacked relation. The flanges of the hopper cooperate with the packages both when the hopper is being loaded `and unloaded, andthe sloping partition facilitates either stacking a number of packages in the receiving compartment D or allowing a number of stamped packages to accumulate in the exit compartment E.

Cigarette packages C are iirst placed in the receiving compartment D; they are then individually lowered through the opening Ila; they are then moved individually and horizontally to a position under the exit compartment E and while being thus moved they operate a counter F; they are then individually subjected to a stamp printing Vaction while at rest below the exit compartment E, and nally they are raised into the exit compartment E from which they are individually removed.

A top pme H is secured For the above purposes the following mechansms are employed:

A transfer table G having low and high stepped portions 25, 26 is slidably mounted on spaced horizontal guide rails 2l, 2l respectively supported on the frame members or plates E, l, the low portion or step 25 being normally below the receiving compartment D for receiving the lowermost package C as shown in Figure 3. An electric motor 28 which is mounted on the base 5 in rear of the frame member l, drives a cross shaft 29 which extends across the frame members 6, I and is journaled therein. Preferably a reduction gear coupling 38 is positioned intermediate the motor shaft and said cross shaft. Fixed 'to the cross shaft 29 is a face cam 3l which is engageable with a roller 32 journaled in the lower end of an upwardly inclined lever 33 fulcrumed on a pivot shaft 34 secured to the frame members 6, 'I above and at the right of the cross shaft 23. The upper end of the lever 33 is connected by a link 33a to the table G. A coil spring 35 is connected at one end to the lever 33 above its fulcrum and at its other `end to a spacing element 35 which is disposed between the frame elements 6, 1, and serves to retain the roller 32 in engagement with the cam 3|. Thus the table is intermittently reciprocated by the motor through the medium of the cam 3 I, the `lever 33 andthe spring 35. When the table has been moved to position a package C under the exit compartment E, the high step or `portion 26 of the table will close the bottom Aof the receiving compartment D.

The counter F is mounted on the rear frame member or plate I, and includes an operating lever 31 which projects forwardly through an opening 38 formed in said frame member 'l and into the path of transfer movement of the cigarette package C. The rear edge of the vertical wall 38 of the table G is provided with a slot 48 which registers with the lever 31 to-thereby avoid the table engaging and operating said lever. Thus, when each package C is transferred from one position to the other by the table G, the counter F will be operated. A cover 4I and lock 42 are associated with the counter to prevent access theretoby unauthorized persons.

Located below and in alinement with the exit compartment E is a plunger elevator I-I for the packages `C. This plunger includes a head '43 and an integral downwardly extending post I4 'slidably mounted in a sleeve bearing 45 fixed to the rear frame plate l. The lower end of the post is bifurcated toreceive a roller 45 which is ournaled on albearing pin il fixed to the post. The post is normally 'held against upward movement by a coil spring 5S which is connected at its upper end to the post and at its lower end -to the base 5. A cam-actuated bell lcrank -lever G8 is -fulcrumed on the pivot shaft 35 and includes a relatively short depending arm 5i and a relatively long horizontal arm 5?., the end of the lat- -ter .being disposed under and having contact with the roller 4'5. A roller 52a is journaled on the .lower end of the short arm 5I for engagement With a cam 53 fixed to the cross shaft 29. Thus, after .the package C has been transferred by the table G, to a position under the exit compartment E and above the plunger H, the cam 53 functions to elevate the plunger and thereby project the package into the exit compartment YE -past spring retainers 58, 5A mounted on the walls of the compartment which function to retain the package against gravitating when the plunger is returned to its initial position.

-on the outer end thereof.

ment of the table G.

The top plate II is-provided with an opening 56 which extends forwardly from the exit compartment E, and supported on the top plate between the flanges I5, 23 of the hopper D is a vertically disposed plate 5l having a pad 58 secured to the front face thereof. Unwinding and winding spools `59 and 88 are respectively journaled on vertical shafts 5I, 6I mounted on the top plate I I on opposite sides of the opening 55. An inking ribbon lor tape B2 is unwound from the spool 59 and wound onto the spool 68. This ribbon is fed over rollers 63, 83 mounted on the top plate II adjacent to but on opposite sides of the pad 58 whereby the ribbon is fed in a straight line and in a vertical plane directly in front of' and in parallel relationto said pad.

In order to feed the ribbon, a horizontal shaft 54 is journaled in brackets attached to the front face of the front frame member B and is driven from the cross shaft 29 by a 1 to 1 gear coupling 65. A vertical shaft B6 is journaled inupper and.

to the shaft 66. Fixed to the upper end of theshaft 66 above the top plate I I is a pulley wheel 'I8, and pivoted to the upper end of said shaft is an arm 1I having a pulley wheel 'I2 journalled An endless feed belt 'I3 is trained around the pulley wheels 'I8, 'I2 and is held in frictional contact with the winding spool 68 by a coil spring 'I4 which has one end connected tothe arm 'II and the other end to an arm 'I5 which is attached to the front frame member `6 and projects upwardly through an opening in the top plate I I. It will therefore be seen that the ribbon B2 is continuously fed from the spool 68, thence over one guide roller 63, thence in front of the pad 58, thence over the other guide roller 53, and thence to the spool 59.

An opening 'I6 is formed in the front plate 6 directly below the pad 58 and in front of the exit compartment E. A substantially horizontal tubular type arm Il is located in register with the opening 56 and attached to the rear end of this arm is a type plate or printing die 18. The type arm is removably and adjustably mounted in a sleeve bearing 'I9 fixed to the upper end of a vertical type lever 88 which is located between the front frame plate 6 and the front wall 8V of the closure plate A. The type lever 88 is pivoted intermediate its ends as at 8| to a forwardly extending supporting lever 32 which extends above the shaft 84 and is pivoted at its rear end as at 83 on the 4frame plate 5.

Journaled on the supporting lever 82 directly above the shaft 64 is a roller 84. Fixed to the shaft 54 are three cams 85, 85, and 81, the cam 86 cooperating with the roller 84 to swingthe lever 64 upwardly and thereby elevate the type arm I'I intoV position whereby the die 'I8 will later be moved to engage the inking ribbon 62.

The cams85 and81 are located on opposite sides of the cam 86 and respectively contact vertical followers 85a1and 8'I8L which are rigidly secured to the lower arm of the type lever 80, and are held against the cams by a coil spring 88 which is connected at one end to the lever 89 and at the other end to the base 5. As soon as the type arm 'il has been elevated by the cam 86, the cam 8l functions to swing the type lever 80 to move the die 18 rearwardly against the ribbon 62 and pad 58 and thereby coat the die with ink. This contact of the die against the ribbon and pad is of very short duration owing to the shape of the cam Si, and the lever is returned to its initial position by the spring 89. The continued rotation of the cam 86 then permits the type arm Il and lever 90to gravitate to a position wherein the type arm can be projected rearwardly through the opening 'l5 in the frame plate and contact the package C which is then in register with said opening. This rearward printing stroke of the type arm is brought about by the cam 85 and the cooperating follower plate 85a which swings the lever 99, the lever being then returned by the spring 99.

'I'he cigarette packages C are enclosed in "Cellophane wrappers and it is desirable to heat that portion of the wrapper which receives the stamp. For this purpose, I have positioned an electric heating unit 89 inthe tubular type arm 'il adjacent the printing die '|8 whereby said die will be kept heated during the operation ofthe machine. Any suitable means may be employed for retaining the heating unit in the type arm, and a flexible electric cord 90 is employed for conducting electric current to the unit.

In Figures 8, 9, and 1G, I have illustrated another form of package counting mechanism which is particularly adapted for use in connection with a meter I now on the market. To this end, the cross shaft 29 is provided with a driving gear 9| which meshes with a gear 92 journaled on the rear frame plate 1. A U-shaped framev 99 which supports the meter I is attached to the upper part of the frame plate by rearwardly extending bolts having locking means 99 associated therewith, and a horizontal shaft 95 is mounted in the frame 93 for rotation and also for endwise movement. Sprockets 96 and 91 are respectively iixed to the gear 92 and the shaft 95, and a sprocket chain 98 is trained around said sprockets to drive the shaft 95 by means of which the counting of the packages isI effected. Attached to the sprocket 9i' to rotate therewith is a pulley 99 having a peripheral groove |00 and a rim |0|, the rim being interrupted by a transverse space |02 forming a resultant beveled end |03 and square end |04 to the rim. A clutch lever |05 is fulcrumed on the frame plate l' as at |06. The front arm |91 of this lever is disposed in front of the shaft 95 and a pin |98 is pivotally connected to the rear arm |99 thereof. A flat spring |09@ is attached to the U-frame 93 and engages the rear arm |09 of the clutch lever for urging the pin |98 inwardly in the groove |00 and for yieldably retaining the front arm |01 against pressing the shaft 95 rearwardly. The meter shaft i l0 is disposed in alinement with the shaft 95. A disc is secured to the end of the meter shaft H0 and is provided with a circular recess H2. A disc |93 is securely attached to the disc and is provided with a forwardly extending pin i4, the disc H3 forniing the bearing for the rear end of the shaft 95. A rearwardly extending pin H5 is securedto the sprocket 91.

In operation, the sprocket 97 is rotated by the motor, and when a package C is being transferred toits printing position, it actuates the clutch lever |05 which moves thev pinv |08 outwardly and the shaft 95 rearwardly towards the kmeter I, the end of the shaft moving into the" recess H2. This movement effects a clutching action between the pinsv |98 and H5 whereby the meter shaft ||0 is rotated for one revolution. At the same time, the rim |0| is moved rearwardly and the pin |08 is caused to ride on said rim.

If the packages are being fed to the machine continuously, the operation of this registering device will be such that the two pins Htl and 5 will be continuously engaged and the pin |08 will be riding the rim continuously.A Should, however, a package be missed, o`r the machine bein operation with no packages passing through, after a count has been registered, a further slight rotation of the grooved pulley will bring the space |02 to the pin |98, and the said pin |08 will drop off the square end |05 into thespace |02, a further rotation of the` shaft 95 causing the beveled edge H03 of the rim to strike kthe pin 98, and as the rotation proceeds the beveled edge |03 of the rim will pull the shaft 95 and its connected parts backto the original position, and on the next revolution of the shaft 95 the pin H5 will pass by the pin ||4 and a count will not Ybe registered. The slot 40 of the table G permits this table to pass by the clutch leverl|05 without engaglng the same. The advantages of are apparentfrom the fact that in its normal operating position it does not register a count while the machine is running,y

if no -package is passing through, but if any at- Aunderstood that a variation of the sprocket and chain drive, such as a gear-train, or other methods of securing the device to the machine frame may be adapted to this particular invention .without affecting the validity of the device itself.

.It is of course to'be understood that the departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim: l. In a package printing machine, the combination with a receiving compartment and an the exit compartment. v

2. In a package printing machine, the combination with a receiving compartment and an exit compartment, of a table for transferring a package from a position below the receiving compartment to a position below the exit compartment, means for reciprocating said table from one position to the other, means for printing'the NTO Aprinted, package into -one position to the other, a reciprocating package from a exit compartment, of a table for transferring a vpackage from a position below the receiving compartment to a position below the exit compartment, means including a cam actuated lever and link for reciprocating said table vfrom one position to the other, means for printing the package while it is 'at rest below Vone of said compartments, and means for projecting Y`the the exit compartment.

4. In a package printing machine, the combination with a receiving compartment and an exit compartment, of a table for transferring a Apackage from a position below the receiving compartment to a position below the exit compartiment, a reciprocatory plunger for transferring the article from the table into the exit compartment,and means for printing the package when it is below the exit compartment and above the plunger. f v

Y V5. In a package printing machine, the combination with `a receivingcompartment and an exit compartment, 'of a table for transferring a package from a position below the receiving compartment to a position below the exit compartment, means for reciprocating said table from plunger for transferring the article from the table into the exit compartment, and means for printing the package when it is below the exit compartment and above the plunger.

6. In a package printing machine, the combination with a receiving compartment and an exit compartment of a table for transferring a position below the receiving compartment to a position below the exit compartment, a reciprocatory p-lunger for transferring the article from the table intorthe exit com- A`partment, -means for frictionally retaining the package'below-the exit compartment and above the plunger, and means .for printing the package while so retained.

'7. In a package printing machine, the combination with a frame including a base and spaced vertical plates and -a top, the latter having an opening communicating with the space betweenkthe plates, of a hopper mounted on the top and including receiving and eXit compartments registering with said opening, a table slidably supported on the plates below the top for 'transferring a package from a position below the receiving compartment to a position below the exit compartment, a reciprocatory -plunger for transferring the package from the table into the exit compartment, a reciprocatory printing device for printing the package when it is below the exit compartment and above the plunger, a motor mounted on the base, and operating means for the table, the plunger and the printing device supported on the frame plates-and operatively connected to the motor.

8. In a package printing machine, the combination with a receiving compartment and an exit compartment, of a table for transferring a package from a position below the receiving compartment to a position below the exit compartment, counting mechanism operated by the pack- Vage while the latter is in transit from one posi- `tion to the other, means for printing the package while it is at rest below one of said compartments, and means for projecting the printed package into the exit compartment.

9. In a package printing machine, the combination with a hopper having a receiving compartment andan exit compartment, of a table for transferring apackage from a'position below the receiving compartment to a position below the exit compartment, counting mechanism including a lever operated by the package while the latter is in transit other, means for printing the package while it is at rest below one of Ysaid compartments, and means for projecting the printed package into the exit compartment.

10. In a machine for'printing packages wrapped in Cellophane, the combination with means for transferring the package from one position to another, of means for printing s-aid package when it is in one of said positions including arm having a wrapper-engaging die, and means for heating said die.

11. In a machine for printing packages wrapped in Cellophane, the combination with means for 'transferring the package from one' position to another, of means for printing said package when it is in one of said positions including -a reciprocatory type arm having a'wrapper-engaging die, and means for continuously heating said die.

12. In a package printing machine, the combination with a hopper having a centrally located and inverted V-shaped partition forming resultant receiving and exit compartments, of a table for transferring `a package from a Vposition below the receiving Acompartment to a `position below the exit compartment, means for printing the package while it is atv rest below one of said compartments, and means for projecting the printed package into the exit compartment.

13. In a package printing machine,the combination with a hopper comprisinga back wall, side w-alls and flanges extending inwardly from the edges of the side walls,rthe back wall having an upwardly projecting and centrally located extension, an inverted V-shaped partition centrally positioned with respect to the side walls to form resultant receiving and exit compartments, the partition projecting above said back and side walls and being centrally locatedy with respectV to the extension of the back wall to form resultant flanges, and flanges projecting inwardly from the partition and arranged in alinement with the flanges of the side walls, of a table for transferring a package from a position below the receiving compartment to a position below the a type ,i

vfrom one position to the exit compartment, means for printing the package while it is at rest below one of said compartments, and means for projecting the printed package into the exit compartment.

14. A machine invented for the purpose of stamping cigarette packages with an official tax stamp, consisting of the combination in such a machine of a sealed case, housing a reciprocally movable feed table, with a reciprocating return table, a hopper for receiving and discharging the packages, having a double sloping partition, with opposite sides cut lower than the height of the partition, an oscillating die head for producing an impression of the tax stamp, means for heating said die, a means of feeding an inked ribbon with which to ink the face of the die, a means of automatically registering the number of packages passing through the machine, a suitable reducing gear for driving the machine -at any desired speed, and a motor, to supply power. 

